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Available for over a year

Beth Orton has teamed up with the Manchester-based music charity Brighter Sound for a new project called Both Sides Now. This is an ambitious three-year long programme aimed at supporting, inspiring and showcasing women in music across the North of England, with support from Arts Council England’s Ambition for Excellence fund. Brighter Sound conducted research recently, which found that women are in the minority in the music industry and those in senior roles continue to be a rarity but also that the intersection of geography, socio-economics and gender means women in the North of England are less likely to forge careers in music. Since 2011, Brighter Sound have led a diverse range of programming, connecting young people and emerging artists through music and creativity. These initiatives have included emerging artist residencies led by Imogen Heap and Anna Meredith, and on-going support for young and emerging music creators. This latest programme, Both Sides Now aims to host residencies for emerging artists, national and international commissions for new work, music industry apprenticeships, conferences, symposia and showcases for industry and creativity, improve education and access to through digital resources. Any aspiring female musicians interested in participating should register at www.brightersound.com/bothsidesnow The programme launches on Thursday (23rd November 17) at Old Granada Studios in Manchester. Miranda Sawyer will host the event and, in the build up to Thursday’s launch, Beth Orton has led a five day long residency for fledgling female artists from the North. Elizabeth Alker went along to the residency to speak to Beth and some of the artists to find out more